Long Within The Caddo Tribe example essay topic

The Caddo Indians, or properly called Cadodacho Indians, belonged to the Caddoan family, which consisted of several tribes originally from lower Red River, Louisiana, eastern Texas, and Southern Arkansas. These tribes included the Wichita, Ki chai, Pawnee, and Ari kara. The Caddo were talented farmers, and extremely hard workers. Even in the worst of weather, they would occupy themselves by making bows and arrows, and the women would create beautiful works of pottery out of clay.

Besides from being just talented in agriculture, they were also natural fishermen and hunters. Their housing consisted of grass thatched and earth covered domes. The grass thatched housing was rounded in shape, and covered in grass. They were spacious, for ceremonial purposes, and had mats inside which served as their bedding at night. They also kept a consistent fire burning inside. The earth houses were covered with brush and cane, with sage grass placed atop a coating of earth.

They were also very decorative people, and upon festive occasions, wore jewelry similar to the Aztec tribe. However, they did not work with gold and silver. The war dance was also a custom of the Caddo tribes. They danced repetively for seven days and eight nights, offering gifts to God in victory. Each person from the tribe would gather around the fire, and engulf their bodies with smoke, believing that this would lead to utmost victory. They believed that God would allow nature and animals to help lead them to victory.

When a Caddo male wished to marry, he would offer the female the best gift he could afford. Then, her mother and father would have to allow consent for her to consider his gift. If she did consent, they would be wed. Marriages did not last very long within the Caddo tribe, being as the women were often swayed by better gifts and promises. However, Caddo males only had one wife at a time. It is also thought that the burials were very similar to that of Wichita's, meaning that the body is often covered with animal skins and placed in a grave about four feet deep.

Their possessions were also placed beside them, and sticks and grass cover the body about six inches deep. After the grave was completely covered over, poles were mounted around the site of the body, to ward off animals and keep the ground smooth and clean. This was the usual burial for the Caddos, unless a tribe member was killed in battle. Then, they allowed wild animals to devour the body, a process they believed was honorable.

Although not much is known about the religion of the Caddo, it is said they believed in a divine spirit that they called "Ayanat Caddi". They were also said to be very reverent people, sacrificing only to their one true God. Even though this is true, there is also evidence that they had other smaller, less important gods to whom they worshipped. It is said that the Caddo were very interested in the sun, hinting that they were one of the many tribes to worship a sun god. They also practiced cannibalism in many of their rites. Sacrifices were often made to Ayanat Caddi, in hopes of good agriculture, victory, and power.

They had a main leader, called the xinesi, who read the signs of the gods. It was the xinesi who directed the Caddo of good farming seasons, and guided their harvest. The Caddos were mound builders, building hundreds of beautiful mounds that may have resembled pyramids, such as those of the Mayans. They typically built two kinds of of mounds: burial and ceremonial. They also build other structures, such as their housing, which could support up to thirty or forty people. The Caddos were often described by explorers as being "good-looking, strong, robust people".

The Hasina i Caddo tribe was by far the most advanced. Their farming techniques were excellent, and for a long period of time, this tribe lived in prospering permanent villages. They were also traders, trading with other Caddo tribes. The Caddo tribes were a flourishing people, civilized and advanced far beyond their time period. Although they were still a stable people when the Europeans invaded, the diseases and destruction that they were contacted with left them weak.

The results of the Louisiana Purchase by the United States made it impossible for the Caddo villages to stay together. They were torn apart, their land invaded by white settlements. Weak and poor, the Caddos were forced to sell their land, and forbidden to ever return to the United States as a tribe..